Thanks to the fans, the starters for the 2004 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles on Feb. 15 (8 ET, TNT) have been selected. Now, it's up to the coaches in their respective conferences to select one center, two forwards, two guards and two wild card picks to fill the roster for the All-Star Game. Reserves will be named on Feb. 3. Here are some top candidates (statistics through Jan. 29).

In his eighth NBA season, Dampier is having the finest year of his career, averaging career-highs in points and rebounds, where he is fourth in the league and the best among centers in the West who qualify. Dampier also gets it done on defense as his 1.64 bpg is good for a ninth place tie among West centers.

STATISTICS

G

MPG

FG%

3P%

FT%

RPG

APG

SPG

BPG

PPG

2003-04

44

32.2

.509

.000

.640

11.5

0.7

0.61

1.64

11.9

Brad Miller  Sacramento Kings

Miller, who had five points and six rebounds in his first All-Star appearance last year with East, is making a case for a reserve spot on the West team this season. Miller not only is second among West centers in rebounding (10.5 rpg, a career-best), but also is dishing 4.7 apg in Sacramento's Princeton offense.

STATISTICS

G

MPG

FG%

3P%

FT%

RPG

APG

SPG

BPG

PPG

2003-04

44

38.2

.511

.444

.784

10.6

4.7

0.84

1.37

14.4

Shaquille O'Neal  Los Angeles Lakers

Finishing behind Yao Ming by slightly more than 31,000 votes, O'Neal is a 10-time All-Star, missing three because of injury. An overwhelming force on both ends of the floor, O'Neal is first in the league in field goal percentage and seventh in blocks.

One of the more heralded rookies in recent years, Anthony has been everything the Nuggets expected from the No. 3 overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft. 'Melo is second among all rookies in scoring, third in rebounds and seventh in assits. He will make an appearance in the got milk? Rookie Challenge on Friday, Feb. 13.

STATISTICS

G

MPG

FG%

3P%

FT%

RPG

APG

SPG

BPG

PPG

2003-04

48

35.8

.410

.321

.746

6.1

2.8

1.19

0.65

18.4

Elton Brand  Los Angeles Clippers

A solid, consistent double-double performer for his five seasons in the league, Brand is the best offensive rebounder in the game with 4.8 offensive boards per game. Brand has also been accurate from the field (.528) and from the free throw line (.756), both career bests for the one-time All-Star.

STATISTICS

G

MPG

FG%

3P%

FT%

RPG

APG

SPG

BPG

PPG

2003-04

30

38.3

.528

.000

.756

12.1

3.6

0.77

2.23

19.9

Pau Gasol  Memphis Grizzlies

The 2002 got milk? Rookie of the Year is ready to play on Sunday after participating in the last two got milk? Rookie Challenges. Gasol has been a consistent low-post force for the Grizzlies in his three seasons and is fifth among West power forwards in scoring average (17.4 ppg).

STATISTICS

G

MPG

FG%

3P%

FT%

RPG

APG

SPG

BPG

PPG

2003-04

44

32.2

.471

.400

.701

8.0

2.6

0.55

1.73

17.4

Andrei Kirilenko  Utah Jazz

What doesn't Kirilenko do for the amazing and persistent Jazz? He leads Utah in scoring, steals, blocks and is second in rebounding and third in assists. Kirilenko became one of the few players ever to record a "5-5-5-5" game: at least five points, rebounds, blocks and steals in the same game. And he did it twice.

STATISTICS

G

MPG

FG%

3P%

FT%

RPG

APG

SPG

BPG

PPG

2003-04

41

37.2

.467

.361

.801

8.0

3.4

2.12

2.90

16.4

Dirk Nowitzki  Dallas Mavericks

One of the premier power forwards in the game, Nowitzki is also one of the better perimeter shooters in the game. This two-time All-Star is fourth among West power forwards in scoring, 10th in rebounding and first in free throw percentage.

STATISTICS

G

MPG

FG%

3P%

FT%

RPG

APG

SPG

BPG

PPG

2003-04

41

38.4

.452

.347

.862

8.8

2.7

0.93

1.24

21.1

Zach Randolph  Portland Trail Blazers

The "Where'd this guy come from?" candidate for All-Star. The third-year player out of Michigan State is flourishing with increased playing time. Has gone from scoring 8.4 ppg last season to 21.3 ppg this season, good for 10th in the NBA. He has nearly tripled his rebounding average (4.5 to 11 rpg) and is fifth in the league in that category.

STATISTICS

G

MPG

FG%

3P%

FT%

RPG

APG

SPG

BPG

PPG

2003-04

44

39.1

.479

.000

.780

11.0

2.3

0.84

0.52

21.3

Peja Stojakovic  Sacramento Kings

One of the leading candidates for league MVP, Peja's been on fire from anywhere on the floor. He's shooting .431 from three-point range, .485 from the field overall and .922 from the free throw line, leading the NBA in the latter category. The two-time All-Star and two-time defending Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout champ is third in the league in scoring with 25.1 ppg.

STATISTICS

G

MPG

FG%

3P%

FT%

RPG

APG

SPG

BPG

PPG

2003-04

43

39.6

.485

.431

.922

6.2

2.1

1.42

0.19

25.1

Antoine Walker  Dallas Mavericks

Acquired by the Mavericks in an off-season trade, Walker has made the most of his short time in Dallas. While his scoring average is his lowest ever, his rebounding and assists per game average have climbed this season. The three-time All-Star had back-to-back triple-doubles in early January.

Injured for the first month and a half of this season, Allen returned to the Sonics lineup with a flourish. A three-time All-Star with Milwaukee, the silky shooting guard has picked up where he left off last season, averaging 23.5 ppg, while dishing a career-high 5.2 apg and matching a career-best 5.0 rpg.

STATISTICS

G

MPG

FG%

3P%

FT%

RPG

APG

SPG

BPG

PPG

2003-04

19

36.5

.441

.377

.863

5.0

5.2

1.42

0.21

23.5

Mike Bibby  Sacramento Kings

One of the many cogs in the Kings' awesome offensive machine, Bibby is averaging a career-high 17.3 ppg, while protecting the ball at the point (18th in the NBA in assists per turnover: 2.75). After being injured for the first half of last season, Bibby has played in all of the Kings' 44 games this season.

STATISTICS

G

MPG

FG%

3P%

FT%

RPG

APG

SPG

BPG

PPG

2003-04

44

33.8

.448

.408

.816

3.3

5.3

1.07

0.30

17.3

Sam Cassell  Minnesota Timberwolves

Sam I Am may finally be Sam I Am an All-Star for the first time in his 11-year career. A two-time NBA champion with the Houston Rockets, Cassell is flourishing next to Kevin Garnett in Minnesota, averaging 21.0 ppg on scintillating .495 shooting from the field. Cassell also is shooting a career-best .425 from behind the arc.

STATISTICS

G

MPG

FG%

3P%

FT%

RPG

APG

SPG

BPG

PPG

2003-04

44

36.3

.495

.425

.866

3.3

7.4

1.14

0.23

21.0

Michael Finley  Dallas Mavericks

A two-time All-Star with the Mavericks, Finley is looking for his third trip to the NBA's midseason classic. Finley, who is second on the Mavericks with 18.2 ppg, also gets it done on defense as he leads the team in steals with 1.12.

STATISTICS

G

MPG

FG%

3P%

FT%

RPG

APG

SPG

BPG

PPG

2003-04

41

39.9

.438

.414

.844

4.9

3.0

1.12

0.51

18.2

Andre Miller  Denver Nuggets

Playing for his third team in three seasons, the 2001-02 league leader in assists is making himself at home in Denver. Miller is second behind All-Star Steve Francis for rebounds by a West point guard with 4.4 rpg and fifth in the West among point guards for assists (6.3 apg).

STATISTICS

G

MPG

FG%

3P%

FT%

RPG

APG

SPG

BPG

PPG

2003-04

48

34.5

.466

.196

.853

4.4

6.3

1.67

0.25

16.0

Gary Payton  Los Angeles Lakers

A rock for the Lakers admist the injures to Shaq, Kobe and Karl Malone. The nine-time All-Star has seen his numbers slip slightly this season, but the old pro is 10th in the league in assists (6.1 apg) and has kept the Lakers afloat while the other stars work their way back from injury.

STATISTICS

G

MPG

FG%

3P%

FT%

RPG

APG

SPG

BPG

PPG

2003-04

42

33.8

.473

.343

.703

3.6

6.1

1.31

0.24

14.9

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